Five Things You Ought to Know about the Holy Month of Ramadan

If you’ve been living in the Middle East, you’d be well-equipped with Ramadan and its traditions. While the most important element during the Blessed Month of Ramadan is fasting, there is a lot more to the Holy Month that you might be unaware of. So here are five things you should know about Ramadan to deepen your understanding of the spiritual month.

Cleanse Your Body, Cleanse Your Soul – Muslims observe fasting in the month of Ramadan from sunrise to sunset. Fasting not only detoxifies the body from the waste, but also helps in maintaining self-discipline and generosity drawing Muslims closer to their faith.

Exceptions & Exemptions – While it is obligatory for all Muslims to fast during Ramadan, a number of exemptions are made for people during Ramadan so they can skip out on having to fast. These include expecting mothers, the sick, elderly crowd and breast-feeding mothers. Also, if people are travelling, they can pass on fasting. However, the missed fasts have to be compensated at the earliest.

Charity is Celebration – During Ramadan, Muslims indulge in charitable events. Donating in cash or kind is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and Muslims frequently give more during Ramadan than in any other month of the year.

Constant Change – Ramadan is based on the lunar calendar. As such, the Blessed Month falls earlier and earlier each year. The month of Ramadan thus moves backwards about 10 days every year as against the Gregorian calendar.

Eat Healthy, Think Healthy – While Ramadan may appear as a month of feasting, many Muslims encourage eating small, healthy meals that won’t interfere with the spirit of Ramadan. Muslims believe in feeding their minds with goodness over their worldly needs.